At long last, the world’s favourite rascals return to the big screen with Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Minions: The Rise of Gru Synopsis
Young Gru thinks he’s despicable enough, but he is still royally ridiculed when he attempts to join the Vicious 6, the world’s most notorious criminal organisation. In a moment of defiance, Gru steals the Zodiac Stone, a powerful mythical artifact recently retrieved by the Vicious 6. Would the stunt then secure Gru’s formal entry into the world of supercriminals? What roles do the Minions play in this stirring origins saga? Would their absurd antics end up being Gru’s worst obstacle?
Snappy Review
The long-delayed Minions: The Rise of Gru, posters for which I’ve been seeing since 2020, pretty much went the way I expected it to. And so I’ll keep this review short.
- It’s utterly wacky. Way too many good bits were unfortunately given away by the trailers, but there’s still enough hysteria to ensure laughs from start to end. Most of the time, the classic child-like charm of the yellow ones is enough to start a giggle too.
- Compared to 2015’s Minions, this sequel/prequel feels less inane. Kevin and Stuart and gang still dish out a full plate of their usual nonsense, but there’s slightly more restraint this time round. More story behind their antics too? This is, overall, a good move because let’s face it, it’s twelve years since the Minions’ debut and comic fatigue is real.
- To me, Gru has long been one of the better developed, more complex characters in animated comedies, and so it’s great to see his personality further fleshed out. There’s no stunning revelation but Rise offers you many hints as to why Gru would eventually become the doting father he is in the Despicable Me movies. As a long-time fan, I find this heartwarming.
- The story does a great job of explaining why Gru tolerated the Minions’ often destructive capers for so long. It’s an explanation that makes sense too.
- Here’s my main complaint about the show. Wait, I should say, my only one. As much as I tell myself to regard it as just a plot vehicle, I still find the whole “Michelle Yeoh kung fu guru” bit unbearable. Way more eye-rolling than any Minion silliness too, for that matter. I mean, how many such roles is Michelle going to take on? In an age strident about equal opportunities for all races, is this not racial typecasting? I rather have the Minions awake to some absurd inner power, rather than all that kung-fu stereotyping.
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